In this Update:

1. Chicago Tribune: Commissioners counter Stroger budget cuts

2. Chicago Sun Times: Stroger promises fight on budget

3. (attached) National Nurses Organizing Committtee News Bulletin

Commissioners counter Stroger budget cuts

By Mickey Ciokajlo
Tribune staff reporter
Published February 14, 2007, 7:09 PM CST

A coalition of Cook County Board members on Wednesday submitted a plan to restore money for frontline services while cutting hundreds of administrative jobs from the 2007 budget proposal.

With a vote on the $3 billion budget still a week away, the coalition members said they expect their proposal would change.

The plan, sponsored by 12 of the board's 17 members, would keep open all of the county's community health clinics and reverse proposed layoffs of prosecutors, public defenders, sheriff's police officers and others.

Union leaders and members surrounded commissioners at Wednesday's announcement. Unions representing the vast majority of the county's workforce have been among the most vocal opponents of board President Todd Stroger's budget plan, which would lay off hundreds of frontline workers to fill a $500 million gap without raising taxes.

The commissioners' proposal would cut $40 million in administrative positions. But some board members were surprised by some of the changes they were proposing, acknowledging that they had not examined their own document line by line.

Commissioner Joan Murphy (D-Crestwood), a sponsor, said she had not realized the plan would cut the job of her daughter-in-law. Likewise, Commissioner Robert Steele (D-Chicago), another sponsor, said he had not been aware that his brother's job would be eliminated.

"We know this is a work in progress, and this is one of the omissions on my behalf," Steele said later in the day.

The coalition's proposal cuts about 400 mid- to high-level administrative jobs while restoring more than 900 frontline workers such as doctors, nurses, prosecutors and sheriff's police officers.

Commissioner Tony Peraica (R-Riverside) said the proposal isn't perfect, but it calls for "restoration of common sense."

"What it does essentially is acknowledge the reality on the ground," said Peraica, Stroger's opponent in November's election.

In addition to the cuts, the board members would also tap a variety of existing funds and raise some fees to generate $34 million in additional revenue.

Some programs that would be retained are among those that Stroger has already said he would keep, such as funding for the suburban health agency Access to Care.

Although his staff immediately began questioning the board members' proposal, Stroger struck a conciliatory tone.

"They are doing exactly what they're supposed to do," Stroger said of the board members. "I'm certain there are plenty of things we agree on and maybe some things we disagree on."

Stroger stressed that the budget must not only work for 2007 but also begin the necessary restructuring for future years.

"This budget deficit is here because we don't have the revenues to pay for the workers we have," Stroger said. "So we have to balance this to make sure that next year we're not trying to scramble and figure out what we're going to do, and we have big press conferences about this and that, and we don't have the money to pay for them."

Commissioner Mike Quigley (D-Chicago), who received a dozen yellow roses from Stroger Wednesday after a public, budget-related fight between the two last week, said Stroger and his staff are seeking to compromise on the budget.

"They're looking to meet in the middle and that's what's going to happen here," Quigley said.

mciokajlo (at) tribune.com

Stroger promises fight on budget
February 16, 2007

By staff writer Jonathan Lipman

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger today promised to veto the budget overhaul proposed this week by a group of 12 commissioners.

P>Commissioners proposed to restore $73 million in cut services, including all 26 community health clinics, through a combination of new revenue and administration cuts. But Stroger said the administrators proposed for cuts are vital to the county.

“Their amendment … will destroy what (interim health bureau chief Robert) Simon is trying to do at the hospital,” Stroger said. “The county wouldn’t even run if we let that go through.”

Stroger said he’s willing to discuss some elements of the commissioners’ proposal, but was not flexible about the number of clinics. Stroger said his proposal to keep 12 of the 26 clinics open is based on solid research about which clinics are most effective.

“We have the right number,” Stroger said. “This is what it should be.”

Commissioners will meet to debate and approve the $3 billion budget next week.

Stroger proposed major cuts to health services and law enforcement to close a $502 million budget gap without increasing taxes.

Stroger’s comments were made during a taping of radio program “At Issue,” which airs at 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Sunday on WBBM-AM (780).

-- Jonathan Lipman may be reached at jlipman (at) dailysouthtown.com or (312) 782-1286.